The new seekers complete biography
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The idea was that the New Seekers would appeal to the same market as the original Seekers, but their music had rock as well as folk influences.
The most familiar line-up included Eve Graham, Lyn Paul, Marty Kristian, Peter Doyle and Paul Layton. The song was relaunched in Coca-Cola commercials in 2005.
Other hit singles by The New Seekers included “Look What They’ve Done To My Song, Ma”, “Beautiful People” and “The Nickel Song”, all of which were written by Melanie Safka.
Had they appeared in the 1980 UK contest, the group would have been up against their former lead singer Danny Finn who had recently married Eve Graham and was now the lead singer of the winning group Prima Donna. The version used in the Coca-Cola television commercials was credited to The Hillside Singers, as many people of various backgrounds and cultures sang the song, holding Coca-Cola bottles on a hillside in the commercial.
The New Seekers toured in 2006 and 2007 with the established line up of: Paul Layton, Donna Jones, Francine Rees, Mick Flynn and Mark Hankins. They were hot favourites to represent the UK again in 1980 (albeit with only Paul & Marty still in the line up) with the song “Tell Me” but it was disqualified shortly before the televised final of A Song for Europe.
2006 was completed with a Royal Variety performance at St. James Palace, London for HRH Prince of Wales and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and an appearance on ITV’s This Morning.
ABOUT - OTHERS
THE NINETIES & BEYOND:
For the next 25 years Judith, Athol, Keith and Bruce found fulfilment individually, while the “spirit of the group” grew more and more legendary around the world; fans of all ages continually begged The Seekers to perform “one more time”. Many new young fans hoped all their lives they might see their idols one day in the flesh. So in 1993, causing unprecedented excitement, Judith, Athol, Keith and Bruce announced they were reuniting for ‘The Silver Jubilee Tour’ and under the guidance of manager John Kovac, the magic continued with CD and video releases (videos were an Eighties invention!); the ’25 Year Reunion Celebration – Live In Concert’CD went platinum; and the quadruple-platinum video was the biggest-selling music video in Australia’s history knocking the reissue of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ from No.1!!
In the UK, overwhelmingly emotional sell-out concerts followed in 1994 and 1995 at London’s ‘Royal Albert Hall’ and ‘Wembley Arena’, and in 1995 The Seekers were inducted by Peter Asher into Australia’s ‘ARIA Hall Of Fame’… the group that first put Australia on the international pop music map.
The Seekers toured extensively again: in 1997 to celebrate their first studio album in 30 years ‘Future Road’, including a ‘Making Of’ video; in 2000 ‘The Carnival Of Hits’world tour; and in 2003 the Never Say Never Again tour to round out the decade.
In addition to having several big hits, the group represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest 1972, finishing in second place. A CD of the 2006 tour was released which includes all of the group’s hits along with covers of ‘Reflections’, ‘Run to Me’ and ‘Strangest Dream’. The New Seekers toured in 2006 and 2007 with the established line up of: Paul Layton, Donna Jones, Francine Rees, Mick Flynn and Mark Hankins.
In addition, Mick Flynn and Donna Jones, two members of the current (2007) line up of The New Seekers were also in the field, competing under the group name Pussyfoot.
Their hit single “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”, adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, appeared 81st on the list of the UK’s best-selling singles issued in 2002.
The group's official website is at www.thenewseekers.com and myspace at www.myspace.com/thenewseekersofficial
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The song was relaunched in Coca-Cola commercials in 2005.Other hit singles by The New Seekers included "Look What They've Done To My Song, Ma", "Beautiful People" and "The Nickel Song", all of which were written by Melanie Safka.
It sold just under one million copies in the United Kingdom alone. The group are currently managed by Nic Culverwell. A CD of the 2006 tour was released which includes all of the group's hits along with covers of 'Reflections', 'Run to Me' and 'Strangest Dream'. The New Seekers went on to sell over 35 million records worldwide, equalling the eight UK Top Twenty entries by The Seekers.
Since the special was first broadcast in 1973 the song itself has since become a pop cult classic in its own right.
The New Seekers have continued to perform over the decades with an inevitable personnel changes which included Peter Oliver, Danny Finn, Caitriona Walsh, Nicola Kerr and Vikki James. Had they appeared in the 1980 UK contest, the group would have been up against their former lead singer Danny Finn who had recently married Eve Graham and was now the lead singer of the winning group Prima Donna.
The group are currently managed by Nic Culverwell.